The present invention relates to an implantable apparatus and methods of use thereof for treating congestive heart failure. An apparatus of this invention may be anchored by implantation of a section of the apparatus within in a branch pulmonary artery, for example the left pulmonary artery, which then positions and anchors another section, for example a device frame section of the apparatus within the main pulmonary artery. A medical device may be attached to the anchored device frame.

A method for forming pleats in a stent graft, includes forming pleats in a graft material of the stent graft by compressing the stent graft, applying heat to the stent graft to thermally set the pleats in the graft material, and extending the stent graft to uncompress the stent graft after the pleats are thermally set.

A prosthetic heart valve implant is provided including a frame shaped so as to define upstream and downstream openings at upstream and downstream ends of the frame, respectively, when the implant is in an expanded state for implantation at a heart native valve. A sheet is coupled to the frame. When the implant is in the expanded state, the frame is shaped so as to define the following longitudinal portions arranged along a central longitudinal axis of the prosthetic heart valve implant: a substantially cylindrical mid portion having a diameter greater than respective diameters of the upstream and the downstream ends of the frame; an upstream portion, extending upstream and radially inward from the mid portion; and a downstream portion, extending downstream and radially inward from the mid portion. Other embodiments are also described.

In some implementations, a radially self-expanding endograft prosthesis is provided that includes (i) distal flange that is self-expanding and configured to flip generally perpendicularly with respect to a body of the prosthesis to help seat the prosthesis against a tissue wall, (ii) a distal segment extending proximally from the distal flange that has sufficient stiffness to maintain a puncture open that is formed through a vessel wall (iii) a compliant middle segment extending proximally from the distal segment, the middle segment being more compliant than the distal segment, and having independently movable undulating strut rings attached to a tubular fabric, the combined structure providing flexibility and compliance to allow for full patency while flexed, the segment being configured to accommodate up to a 90 degree bend, (iv) a proximal segment having a plurality of adjacent undulating strut rings that are connected to each other.

Example stent grafts and methods for placement thereof are provided. An example stent graft may include (a) a main body stent graft defining a lumen that has a first end and a second end, (b) a diaphragm coupled to the main body stent graft, where the diaphragm defines at least three openings and (c) at least three stent graft extensions each defining a lumen, where a first end of each of the three stent graft extensions is coupled to one of the three openings.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a delivery tool and a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a first frame, and a second frame coupled to the first frame. The delivery tool comprises a first catheter, a second catheter, and a rod. A steerable portion of the second catheter extends out of the first catheter, and a steerable distal portion of the rod extends out of the second catheter. An extracorporeal rod-controller is operably coupled to the rod such that operating the extracorporeal rod-controller steers the steerable distal portion of the rod. In a delivery state of the apparatus, the prosthetic valve is compressed onto the rod, distal to the distal end of the second catheter, and the apparatus is transfemorally and transseptally advanceable into a left atrium of a heart of a subject. Other embodiments are also described.

A stent may include a tubular stent body having a lumen extending therethrough. The stent may further include an anchor portion attached to an end of the tubular stent body, where the lumen continues through the anchor portion, and where the anchor portion includes at least one opening configured to facilitate tissue ingrowth. The anchor portion may be detachable from the tubular stent body while the stent is in a deployed state.

A ball-type anti-reflux biliary stent, including a meshed body, a cup and a ball. The cup and the ball are respectively provided at two ends of the meshed body. Inner diameters of the cup and the ball is larger than that of the meshed body. The meshed body includes a plurality of sections, and two adjacent sections are connected by a flexible wire. The cup of the stent is a cylinder open outwards, and the opening of the ball is connected to a tube having a substantially elliptical cross section. Therefore, a displacement of the stent is prevented for an accurate fixation of the stent. Moreover, the intestinal juice is prevented from flowing back into the biliary tract, avoiding infectious diseases.

An endoluminal prosthesis comprises a prosthetic trunk having a trunk lumen and a trunk wall, a first prosthetic branch having a first branch lumen and a branch wall, and a second prosthetic branch having a second branch lumen. The first branch lumen and the second branch lumen are both in fluid communication with the trunk lumen through the trunk wall and the second branch lumen is in fluid communication with the first branch lumen through the branch wall. Additional devices, systems, and methods are disclosed.

A hybrid stent includes multiple main cells aligned in a spiral shape and including multiple first link units which are aligned diagonally and spaced at a predetermined distance from each other and multiple second link units which connect adjacent first link units among the multiple first link units and are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, and one or more open cells adjacent to the multiple main cells in a longitudinal direction and aligned in a spiral shape.